Japan has won both World Baseball Classic tournaments, but unhappiness over how the merchandising and sponsorship revenue is split up has the back-to-back defending champions threatening to boycott the 2013 games.

Japanese players’ association chairman Takahiro Arai told the Associated Press that they first told WBC organizers of their demands “a year and a half ago … but we have yet to get a response, and since it appears one is not coming we are forced to take this stance.”

Of course, the Associated Press also points out that Japan made similar threats to boycott the 2009 tournament “but eventually took part.”

Adding to the potential drama is that Japan is scheduled to host the first-round of the tournament, which will take place in March.